SOUTHFIELD, Mich. – Community members gathered at Stevenson Elementary, located on Lahser Road in Southfield, to celebrate the ribbon-cutting ceremony of the newly renovated campus.
The school underwent more than $20 million in upgrades approved by the community, marking an exciting re-grand opening for the Southfield public schools campus.
James Jackson, Chief of Staff for Southfield Public Schools, and Principal Tonya Hickman gave a tour of the transformed school.
“One of the main things that we did was we relocated the main office to create a secure vestibule,” said Jackson.
Security upgrades also include the installation of updated surveillance systems throughout the school.
“We wanted to make sure that our students and their families felt and knew that they were safe in our schools. So, we made a lot of investment into security features and upgrades to this campus,” Jackson said.
Students say the building feels much cooler now, thanks to new air conditioning flowing through the halls, along with new windows, doors, and lockers for every student—a welcome addition for the growing campus.
New classrooms have been added to accommodate increasing enrollment.
The school also features a new fine arts wing for music and arts classes, as well as new learning and STEM labs equipped with state-of-the-art technology.
“You will see that we have more high-tech equipment. We have die-cut machines. Not just the small elementary, but we have professional di-cut machines,” said Hickman.
Outside, students will enjoy the Falcons Zone, an all-abilities playground designed for inclusive play.
The re-grand opening is especially meaningful for Hickman, who was diagnosed with breast cancer over the summer and is currently undergoing chemotherapy.
“Hey, I just believe in service from the heart. And so, I have to push myself for others. And so, I know that I will be well, and it’s because of all of the love that I receive from here,” Hickman said.
Hickman’s commitment reflects the school’s spirit of community, where students and staff say no one fights alone.
Construction is still underway on a community clinic at Stevenson’s campus, and district officials expressed excitement about ongoing transformations at other schools in the district.